Jesse Lingard, as in, England and Manchester United footballer Jesse Lingard, now has an esports team.
Previously known as Audacity Esports, and briefly playing under the temporary name Team JLE, Lingard’s team is now officially titled JLINGZ esports, taking on the moniker of his personal brand. The side will compete next year in the Rainbow Six Siege UKIN Second Division, with the ambition to “create a legacy within Rainbow Six Siege as well as qualify for the 2022 European Challenger League”.
Ahead of the official unveiling we talked to Lingard about his decision to buy the team. “Well I’ve always been a big gamer,” he said. “You know, I think esports is only going to grow bigger than what it is now. I’ve had various conversations with Ubisoft – they’ve been brilliant with me – and I just thought it was the right time to get into esports and own my own team. And I think taking another jump into something different is going to be good – I always like trying new things.”
Welcome to the squad TEAM JLINGZ esports @JLINGZesports! #RainbowSixSiege #R6UKI #JLINGZ @ubisoft_uk @epicglobalgg 🎮👊🏾 pic.twitter.com/OQzZVzrzJU
— Jesse Lingard (@JesseLingard) August 30, 2021
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It might seem a little out of left field for Lingard to be suddenly moving into esports, but there is some precedent. A number of football clubs have esports teams that represent them in football-based games – Konami’s eFootball.pro league features an entire 10-team league of official football clubs’ esports sides, including Manchester United – while others like Paris Saint Germain and Schalke 04 have esports teams that compete more widely in games like Dota and League of Legends. David Beckham – also of England and Manchester United fame – co-owns a side called Guild Esports, which competes across Fortnite, Rocket League, FIFA and Valorant.